Category Archives: Alert

Advisory: Tornado Drills on Central Campus March 21 – 25

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picture behind Weiss building showing open sidewalkDuring the week of March 21 – March 25, the Emergency Management team, in collaboration with Central Piedmont Security, will be conducting tornado drills on the Central Campus. The drill should last 15 minutes depending on the size of the building. Please note that there will not be an audible alarm to signal the drill and we will not use our Critical Alert system. In the event of an actual tornado, the Critical Alert system will be used.

We will follow the emergency procedures for Shelter in Place for Severe Weather. Please review the emergency evacuation maps posted in your area and identify the nearest Shelter in Place location. If you are not near a designated Shelter in Place location, seek shelter inside on a lower level that does not have windows or glass (ex. restrooms, stairwells, interior hallways, or interior classrooms). 

Please review the following Shelter in Place procedures for Severe Weather:

  • All students, staff, faculty, and visitors should move into, or stay inside, the closest permanent building.
  • Move to the lowest level of the building. 
  • Move to the interior most area of the building (interior hallways and rooms).
  • Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands.
  • Stay away from exterior walls, windows, skylights, and other areas containing glass.
  • Stay out of areas with a vast room expansion (auditoriums, gymnasiums).
  • Remain in place until you receive the ALL CLEAR notification from Central Piedmont Security, or emergency response personnel, indicating that it is safe to return to normal operations.  

Thank you in advance for your attention to these important emergency procedures and your participation in this drill. Our goal is to enhance the preparedness of all students, staff, faculty, and visitors in the event of an actual emergency. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Emergency Management team if you have any questions.

Please review the scheduled drill times by location:

 

Monday

Belk, 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Health Careers Building, noon-12:15 p.m.

Levine Health Sciences, 12:15-12:30 p.m.  

Tuesday

Library, 11-11:15 a.m.

Giles, 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Citizens, noon-12:15 p.m.

Wednesday

Overcash, 10-10:15 a.m.

Worrell, 10:30-10:45 a.m.

Sloan-Morgan, 11-11:15 a.m.

Thursday

Culinary Arts Building, 8:45-9 a.m.

Central High, 9:15-9:30 a.m.

Zeiss, 3:15-3:30 p.m.

NCB, 3:45-4 p.m.

Friday

Center for Arts Technology, 11-11:15 a.m.

Levine IT, 11:15-11:30 a.m.

Parking Deck Closures on Central Campus

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Parking at Central PiedmontParking Lot 6 on Central Campus will be closed for special event parking on the following dates in November:

Thursday, Nov. 11 – 7 a.m.-noon
Monday, Nov. 15 – 7 a.m.-noon
Tuesday, Nov. 16 – 7 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, Nov. 17 – 7 a.m.-noon

Students can also park in Parking Deck 1 (corner of Charlottetowne Ave. and 7th Street) or Parking Deck 4 behind Overcash on these dates.

Advisory: All Classes Moving Online Through February 2

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orange graphic COVID 19In accordance with the Mecklenburg County Public Health directive issued earlier today (Jan. 12), all Central Piedmont classes will be delivered online through February 2. Instructors will contact students directly with any special instructions.

All meetings involving Central Piedmont employees should be held virtually through Feb. 2.

Please check your Central Piedmont email frequently over the next several days for updates.

The college encourages everyone to stay safe and vigilant as COVID-19 cases are spiking in Mecklenburg County.

Advisory: Statewide curfew to take effect Dec. 11

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orange graphic COVID 19N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a curfew for North Carolinians and businesses, effective Friday, Dec. 11.

The “modified stay-at-home order” will require people to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and most retail and entertainment businesses to close by 10 p.m. All on-site alcohol sales are required to end by 9 p.m., Cooper said.

Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the curfew.

The governor said the move is to limit gatherings and to slow the spread of coronavirus. “We will do more if our trends do not improve,” Cooper said.

The modified stay-at-home order will remain in place until at least Jan. 8.

According to the Governor’s executive order, between Nov. 21 and Dec. 4, more than three-fourths of North Carolina counties were experiencing “substantial” or “critical” spread COVID-19 community spread, based on the new County Alert System developed by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The college encourages all community members to stay vigilant in maintaining all of our safety practices. Please keep wearing a facemask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, and monitoring yourself for any possible COVID-19 symptoms. Should you develop any symptoms or feel ill at all, please stay home and consult a physician.

Advisory: Gov. Cooper extends statewide stay-at-home order through May 8

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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday he is extending his statewide stay-at-home order through May 8. The order continues to restrict gatherings of more than 10 and allows only essential businesses and institutions to operate. The stay-at-home  order is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

As announced previously, Central Piedmont Community College will complete the spring 2020 semester with students learning – and the vast majority of employees working – remotely.

The spring 2020 graduation ceremony scheduled for May 14 has been postponed. The college plans to hold a number of smaller, in-person, program-focused ceremonies on Central Campus, July 29-31. We will communicate the specific plans as soon as they are complete, but please mark these dates on your calendar. In the meantime, the Graduation Committee is exploring other ways to honor graduates during the month of May. More details to come.

Our summer terms will take place as scheduled. The method of instructional delivery – in-person, online or a combination of the two – will depend on the future severity of the pandemic. Our top priority will be keeping everyone safe. Priority registration for our current students for the summer and fall semesters began April 17. Open registration for new students begins April 27.

Current students who have not done so already should register for their summer and fall classes quickly while plenty of seats are still available.

Please continue to take precautions to stay home and stay healthy. The college has established the Central Piedmont Cares initiative to connect with you and to connect you with helpful resources, as we all continue to navigate this rapidly changing situation. Visit the Central Piedmont Cares website for information regarding available resources.

Advisory: Mecklenburg Co. Issues Stay-At-Home Order (effective 3/26 at 8 a.m.)

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Please be aware that Mecklenburg County issued a stay-at-home order this afternoon. It goes into effect this Thursday (March 26) at 8 a.m., and lasts through April 16. You can read the full statement on the Mecklenburg County Government website for more details.

According to the “Essential Businesses & Operations” section of the county’s proclamation, educational institutions may remain open “for purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research related to COVID-19, or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible,” so our most essential workers can continue to come to campuses as needed.

Students and all other employees should follow the county order, stay at home, and not come to campus. However, our teams are still here to support you: We continue to provide as many services as possible remotely, via phone and email. See the college website for a complete directory of departments, or call our Information Center during business hours at 704.330.2722. Please reach out to us if we can help in any way.

Latest Update from the College About Coronavirus

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The coronavirus brings a worldwide concern to our community, and we understand it can be very scary and confusing. Central Piedmont continues to remain in contact with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, for updates and direction.

The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, declared a state of emergency Tuesday (3/10/20), as leaders and public health officials continue to deal with the coronavirus. As of this writing, the Charlotte Observer reports North Carolina now has seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, health officials said. All of the patients are in isolation while officials identify close contacts.”

Now that cases have been confirmed in North and South Carolina, it’s time to put aside panic and focus on preparation. We can all stop stigma and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided resources on mental health and coping during COVID-19 and also issued information about helping end coronavirus-related stigma and discrimination that is occurring toward groups of people including:

  • Persons of Asian descent
  • People who have traveled abroad or to states with coronavirus outbreaks
  • Emergency responders or healthcare professionals

In the meantime, the college’s contracted company for cleaning and janitorial services is taking extra care to clean and disinfect the usual virus and germ “transmission points,” such as doorknobs, light switches, water fountains, phones, countertops, etc.

To reduce your chances of contracting any kind of illness, the CDC recommends the following.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick (social distancing).
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

We pledge to give you as much updated information as we can. This is an update to let you know we are thinking of every option to keep you safe and healthy. Visit the college’s Emergency Management website for updates from Central Piedmont.

Construction on Central Campus to Impact Charlottetowne Ave.

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Construction of the Charlottetowne at 5th Classroom Building, on Central Campus will require the closure of one lane of Charlottetowne Avenue from Elizabeth Avenue to 5th Street. Closure of the right lane, the lane closest to the building site, will begin Feb. 24, and last about six weeks.

The sidewalk along Charlottetowne will be shifted into the closed lane and separated from traffic by protective barriers. Traffic delays during peak times are expected. Please plan accordingly. Thank you for your patience.

Safe College – Active shooter preparedness

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We hope you’re off to a great start with the new semester! We want you to know campus safety is the top priority of Central Piedmont’s College Security Services team and Emergency Management staff.

Thank you for taking part in Wednesday’s classroom phone paging system test. We will periodically test our emergency communication channels as part of our preparations for potential emergency situations.

We take this opportunity to remind you of the information available on the college’s website about What To Do In An Emergency, for situations including an active shooter, severe weather, fire, and more. The college has a short, safety video we want you to watch now about what to do in those kinds of emergencies.

If there’s an active shooter on or near a Central Piedmont campus, would you know what to do? It’s incredibly important for employees and students to be prepared. Please also take a moment today to watch this powerful video to learn more about the “Run. Hide. Fight.” concept to help you know what to do if an active shooter is on campus or in a building where you are located. If a campus goes on lockdown, you should immediately find a way to secure yourself, whether that means run, hide, or fight. Here’s more information:

RUN:

  • If you are outside or feel that it is safe to do so, exit the area and move away from danger to take protective cover.

HIDE:

  • If you are in a building and/or unsure of the location of the shooter, find the nearest classroom or safe area to securely hide.
  • Close and lock the door, close the blinds, find a spot in the room to hide away from the windows and doors, and remain quiet and calm.
  • If the door does not lock, use items from the room to attempt to barricade the door or hide behind.
  • DO NOT answer the door for anyone except first responders.

FIGHT:

  • This is a last resort. If you come into direct contact with the shooter, use the means at your disposal to fight and attempt to stop the individual.

The college relies on its students and employees to be the eyes and ears of the college, so if you see something, say something. Please program the Central Piedmont College Security Services phone number, 704.330.6911, into your mobile phone and call if there’s ever a concern of an immediate threat. If you know of behavior that is concerning or disruptive to the college community, please learn more about counseling service referrals or how to submit a report to the Care Team, which is a cross-unit group whose members consist of college staff from Student Services, College Security Services, Counseling, Human Resources, and Academic Affairs. Here are multiple ways to contact College Security if you have additional concerns: 

Contact College Security Services:

  • Emergency 704.330.6911
  • Non-Emergency 704.330.6632
  • Text-2-Tip Text to 67283: Start your message with “CPCCTIP” and provide your security concern/tip

Spring semester test of the classroom phone paging system

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The college-wide phone system in classrooms has the capability to turn each phone handset into a paging speaker. In an urgent situation, the college can page classrooms phones at once, by campus. Please be aware that we will test this phone paging system and the college website on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 10:30 a.m.

This is also a great time to take a moment to confirm or update your mobile phone number and other contact information in our Critical Alert emergency text/phone/email system. It’s important to keep your contact info updated, because this is how the college will contact you if classes are cancelled or impacted due to inclement weather or if there’s an emergency situation.

  • Use your Central Piedmont login and password at cpcc.regroup.com.
  • To add text/call information, scroll down to the “PHONE NUMBERS” section and look for the “+ Add New Phone Number” option below any existing phone numbers.
  • To delete an incorrect phone number, select the trash can icon to the right of it.

Please note that you cannot opt out of Critical Alert notification emails to your Central Piedmont account because your college email is the official channel of communication.